"I’m excited to be the instructional leader of the school,” she said. “That’s the biggest thing.”

Superintendent Tim Wilson said she was the best candidate.

“Parents trust her, and that’s huge at that level,” Wilson said. “She makes decisions based on what’s best for the kids.”

Coates has worked in Carrollton schools for 18 years and has taught at the elementary and middle schools and transitions center.

Jaremba taught her to love Carrollton, Coates said.

Stepping into the role, she said, she’s eager to maintain Carrollton’s strong, loving atmosphere and have teachers and staff work together to improve instruction and test scores.

Wilson described Coates as knowledgeable and said she has a great personality. Knowing the school will help her keep the district’s strong early childhood programs moving forward and align the curriculum to move the school forward academically, he said.

"Everyone has to work together," Coates said. "We’re all trying to do what’s best for kids."

— Lindsay Knake covers education for MLive/The Saginaw News. Follow her on twitter or contact her at 989-372-2498 or lknake@mlive.com.